Thursday, January 26, 2012

Smuttynose Robust Porter

Smuttynose Robust Porter, second of the two singles brought back from Casanova's in hudson, WI. Not the last Smuttynose I have to drink, there's still one sitting in the fridge left over from November's visit to Dairyland. Just not always in the mood for a Quadrupel. A robust porter, on the other hand...

Like the brown ale, I first tried this one almost nine years ago, during the early days of trading, courtesy of an East Coast trading partner. These are the notes:

Fully black color, below a rich, tan, though woefully brief, head.

Aroma is strong and powerful, rich with notes of cocoa, coffee, and butternut. Slightly oily texture, but with plenty of grit. Full body, sweet, strong, substantial, with a tasty acidity and tang. Small bitterness, and solid malt. Sweet and bitter at once. Roasty, toasty, and above all, tasty.

A little syrupy toward the end, but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of this fine porter.